Century University

Dear All:

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure to review the Century University calender. It states: "Century University is accredited with The Accrediting Commission International (A.C.I.), [and that] A.C.I. has not requested a listing with the U.S. Department of Education."

It also states that "Century University has been accepted by several such Ministries of Education in countries where governance is appropriate."

Please avoid such bullshit like plague.

Byran

 

Whenever I see "International" attached to the back of anything it raises a red flag to me. Touro did this, too. They went with Touro University International, but they are accredited via RA. There are probably other legitimate schools out there with the International ending but offhand I cannot think of them.

Another one that comes to mind is one in England that is purportedly associated with Cambridge. Was it Cambridge University International?

 

Sorry. It was St. George University International. NOT Cambridge University International.

 

And...if anyone is interested in St. George University International they had better hurry up and apply! The tuition will double on March 31. http://www.stgeorgeuniversity.edu/application/fees.htm

 

International House of Pancakes???

Russell

 

St. George is the only school I've seen that sells "academic regalia" on their web site! One can purchase gown, hood, and cap.

Sounds reat for a do-it-yourself graduation ceremony. I suggest that they also sell cassettes of "Pomp and Circumstance."

Christopher

 

Or, if folks would prefer more of an ensemble effect...five kazoos!

(Sorry; that was a horrible image, wasn't it?)


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

I have occasionally thought of creating a website for the American International Global Worldwide University -- it would, of course, be the leading Internet university, the premier global institution of higher learning, committed to excellence in global education, a university without walls that offers prestigious degrees with credit for lifetime experience (you may have already earned your degree!), and of course it would be legal, legitimate, and fully accredited.




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Kristin Evenson Hirst
DistanceLearn.About.com

 

Yeah, but Pacific National California (insert name of famous dead guy here) Graduate Institute would still be preferred by 4 out of 5 dentists who chew gum. So there.

(Survey conducted [any back-dated date here] with dentists practicing in the following areas:

St. Kitts and Nevis
Montana
Wyoming
Hawaii
South Dakota
But not Florida (until after the application clears)

Rich Douglas

 

Try this...

"Century University degree certificates are printed on superior quality parchment suitable for framing. Doctoral certificates measure 12" X 14", and Bachelor and Master certificates measure 7" X 9"."

So states the Century calender.

Why not use ur laserjet?

Byran

 

Be more creative. Why not setup the page 'Design your own Doctoral Certificate'. Then you can send it to nearby colour laser printer. Instant gratification!

 

The perception of Century University that I am hearing from this group is unfortunate.

I have been in the PhD program for over a year now and have been happy. I agree with Neil's posts earlier in the year that the acceditation issue at the PhD level depends on your needs.

 

This is no doubt true, but whose needs could possibly be met by ACI accreditation (besides perhaps the esteemed Peelsburi Doughboy)?


Peace,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

HAHA!

 

For those not familiar with the Dr. Doughboy of which Tom speaks, a fictitious school was created in 1989 by the attorney general of Missouri, which made application to ACI(known then as IAC). The fictitious East Missouri Business College, located in a rented room in St. Louis, listed such school executives as "Peelsburi Doughboy" and "Wonarmmd Mann."

The director of IAC, Dr. George Reuter, completed a site visit to the school, and thus, EMBC was accredited. IAC was heavily fined and shortly thereafter dissolved. Almost immediately a new agency was formed, ACI, which offered "instant accreditation to all IAC members." (Bears' Guide)

So, it is this very ACI which as accredited Century University. Quite an accomplishment!

Russell

 

"Century University degree certificates are printed on superior quality parchment suitable for framing. Doctoral certificates measure 12" X 14", and Bachelor and Master certificates measure 7" X 9"."

So let's see, that would mean the Associate's certificate would be 3" x 5" and the course completion certificate would be one inch square.

Tom's "Peelsbouri Doughboy" reference is probably not known to many here. May I explain -- which also helps explain why I have no respect for Century University:

The story is told in some detail in both Steve Levicoff's book and mine.

In Missouri, there was the International Accrediting Commission, which accredited a great many Bible schools, and a few secular ones, like Century.

The Attorney General of Missouri did a very clever sting operation, in which he established a totally fake entity called East Missouri Business College, which rented a one room office, and put out a small typewritten catalog, showing officers such as the aforementioned Mr. Doughboy, Wonarrmed Mann, and the three stooges.

The International Accrediting Commission was invited in, handed a sizeable cashier's check, and duly accredited this fake school. They were, of course, immediately nabbed, enjoined from operating, and fined.

Immediately thereafter, the Accrediting Commission International opened for business across the state line in Arkansas.

Although its founder has denied this publicly, they immediately offered all the schools accredited by IAC the option to be accredited by ACI with no further inspection of work.

I have the proof of this -- several copies of the letter sent to schools by ACI, so when Dr. Schiele of ACI denies this, he ain't tellin' the truth.

To the best of my knowledge, every school accredited by IAC accepted the offer by ACI. Can't be sure, since ACI may be the only accrediting agency on earth that claims respectability that refuses to publish a list of the schools it accredits.

And that is where Century University sits -- failing, in the literature I have seen, to reveal the fact that their accreditation comes from an unrecognized (and thus, in my opinion, useless agency, much less one with the baggage attached that ACI has.

John Bear www.degree.net

 

I must ask. What are you doing for your Ph.D. from Century? Coursework, dissertation, etc.? I would be very interested in learning the specifics of the program and what you are doing to be satisfied with their Ph.D. Also, since it satisfies your needs how do you plan on using the degree when you graduate?

Thanks,

John

 

You forgot my favorite faculty member of Eastern Missouri Business College, the esteemed Arnold Ziffel (the pig from the TV show "Green Acres").

Bruce

 

Considering that you're enrolled in Century, and Neil graduated from there, I really wouldn't expect much different from either of you.

Bruce

 

When I surveyed graduates of six nontraditional schools, that survey included graduates from Century. They were very pleased with the performance of their degrees, especially compared to graduates of the other schools (two of which were--and remain--regionally accredited). However, this is almost certainly due to varying expectations. Part of my survey included asking why theses graduates chose their particular schools. The respondents from unaccredited schools tended to pursue their degrees because of personal reasons (like self-esteem, validation of one's work, etc.), and were much more likely to be satisfied with an unaccredited degree. The graduates of accredited programs tended to rate other reasons higher, like getting a promotion, getting a professional license, etc.

My overall impression was that graduates who went into their programs knowing what they wanted to get out of them were much more likely to be satisfied with the results. If you know a degree from Century will meet your needs, you're likely not to be disappointed. In fact, some of the most biting comments came from respondents graduating from the two accredited programs (who's expectations going in were high) and from one unaccredited school that was trying hard to deliver quality programs. (That school, William Lyon University, later obtained recognized accreditation briefly, but is now out of business. The most bitter comments came from former students of the wonderful International College in Los Angeles, transferred to William Lyon after International shut its doors.)

Century claims to have graduated more than 10,000 students. If true, there should be a lot of angry, vocal consumers screaming about being ripped off. But there isn't. We may not like the school (I certainly don't), but its customers seem to.

Rich Douglas